Are Design Trends Useful?
After sharing what's going on with each of us, we talked a bit about Theresa's upcoming rehearsal dinner she's planning for her son's wedding. She wanted some input on decor and overall theme/tone of the event. I sensed some underlying interpersonal tension going on within the two sets of in-laws... something I think happens a LOT! So Theresa, if you want some supportive folks in your corner, keep us posted :-)
We then turned the conversation toward a topic I brought up which is "trend forecasting." As you can imagine, I'm not a huge fan because of my overall wariness about trends! But after sharing some snippets from recent magazine articles on decor trends for 2024, I think we agreed there was some usefulness to the discussion!
When talking about what each of us wants from our homes in 2024, the subject of wanting "space," "breathing room," and "freedom" came up across the board. Which, for some of us, means getting rid of stuff! Both for our own sanity as well as thinking about what we'll eventually leave behind for our families to deal with. Theresa said she's been going through a big purge recently and has found the following websites really helpful:
"Decluttering at the Speed of Life" book
I also want to throw in my 2 cents here! I absolutely love all of Peter Walsh's books and I've interviewed him a few times. Relevant to our particular conversation on our call last night is his book "Let It Go," where talks about getting rid of things for downsizing and dealing with the accumulated things of deceased or ailing parents.
Peter Walsh: "Let It Go" book
Here are links to my interviews with Peter:
Why Your Stuff is Killing Your Future Self and What To Do About It
Get Organized with Peter Walsh
I've also had terrific interviews with two other decluttering/organizing authors and I highly recommend both of them. Here are links to those conversations:
Why Can't We Stop Buying Stuff? Decluttering with Tracy McCubbin
KEY MOMENTS
00:00:27 - Introductions
00:02:13 - Tracy's Door Painting
00:04:58 - Pat's Yoga Room
00:07:50 - Barbara's Church Project
00:10:51 - Theresa's Deck and Wedding
00:16:31 - Planning a Rehearsal Dinner with a Star Wars Theme
00:17:46 - Dealing with Tension and Judgment
00:19:02 - Venue Options and Catering
00:20:57 - Including Out-of-Town Guests
00:24:51 - Centerpiece and Table Setting Ideas
00:33:30 - Floral Arrangements and Decorations
00:36:03 - Boat Decorations
00:37:07 - Food Stations and Seating
00:39:31 - Trend Forecasting and Individuality
00:43:17 - Creating a Positive Outlook
00:49:38 - The Best Interior Design Trends of 2023
00:51:09 - Embracing Enduring Materials and Sustainability
00:51:24 - Defining What's In and Out for 2024
00:52:57 - Cravings and Personal Spaces
01:05:29 - The Importance of Small Steps in Decluttering
01:06:43 - Peter Walsh's Book on Mindful Decluttering
01:07:32 - Exploring Different Ways to Improve Engagement
01:08:51 - Reflecting on the Evolution of the Group
01:13:11 - Brainstorming Ideas for a Centralized Information Hub